Trump thanks Qatar as Hamas agrees Gaza disarmament roadmap

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a landmark agreement on Thursday for the staged disarmament of Hamas and other armed factions operating in Gaza. According to Trump's statement, the arrangement represents a significant advancement toward establishing sustainable peace and security in the region. The deal envisions a carefully sequenced process whereby Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza as the disarmament process advances.

Trump publicly acknowledged the mediation efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye in facilitating the agreement. He characterized the breakthrough as a cornerstone of his administration's broader strategy to resolve the ongoing conflict. The framework also calls for the establishment of an International Stabilization Force that would operate in coordination with a newly formed Palestinian police force to maintain order in Gaza.

Hamas and other Palestinian groups have indicated preliminary acceptance of the disarmament roadmap, though they have attached a critical condition: implementation will commence only if Israel formally commits to withdrawing its military presence from the enclave. Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas negotiator, emphasized that the negotiations were demanding and that the agreement represents the most feasible outcome achievable under the circumstances. He stressed that Hamas would not proceed with any implementation measures if Israel fails to honor its withdrawal obligations.

The proposed framework specifies that weapons would be catalogued and stored under the supervision of a Palestinian National Committee rather than transferred to Israel or external entities. International observers would monitor compliance throughout the process. The agreement stipulates that a detailed implementation roadmap must be finalized within 14 days of formal approval by all parties, with any timeline extensions requiring authorization from an international verification body and consent from all signatories.